Chelsea receive huge transfer boost towards seventh summer signing

Chelsea are hoping Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will become their seventh new addition of the summer window and they have received a boost in their transfer pursuit as the French side

have already started looking for replacements. Kepa Arrizabalaga's turbulent form over the past two years has left Frank Lampard questioning the Spaniard's future. It is unlikely

the Blues will find a club who will pay a substantial fee for the 25-year-old, or cover this enormous wages. Arrizabalaga is expected to remain at Stamford Bridge for the upcoming campaign

but will likely start it on the bench. Frank Lampard is hoping to bring in a new No 1 and has settled on Mendy after being priced out of a move for Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak. Chelsea

had an initial £14million bid rejected for Mendy and Rennes insisted they did not want to let the Senegal star go. However, the west Londoners are preparing a second approach which may be

too good to turn down. French publication L'Equipe claims Rennes fear they may lose the 28-year-old and have identified a replacement in Paris Saint-Germain's Alphonse Areola. The

shot-stopper was loaned out to Real Madrid last season and was the understudy to Thibaut Courtois. Areola only made six appearances which has seen him fall down the pecking order in the

French international team. To ensure he has a place in the squad for Euro 2021 he is hoping to leave the Parc des Princes in pursuit of regular football. And Rennes may be able to offer him

that at the highest level as they qualified for the Champions League. Chelsea will be boosted by the news as Rennes may be more inclined to allow Mendy to leave once they get a loan deal for

Mendy wrapped up. He could become the seventh arrival once Kai Havertz completes his blockbuster move from Bayer Leverkusen. Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell and Malang

Sarr have also joined the club. Meanwhile, Chelsea technical director explained why the club are not giving up on Arrizabalaga. "Kepa struggled last season, that is

unquestionable," he said. "But the club invested in him and gave him a long-term contract because they believe he has the qualities and attributes to be successful. "Additions

will be made to the squad, perhaps even in goal, and this is what is being discussed now. "But nobody is giving up on Kepa and we all hope he has a great future."